A strong low pressure moved across the northern U.S. during the afternoon and evening hours of the 6th.  Very warm air surged north into Iowa with afternoon temperatures reaching the upper 60s to mid 70s in most locations.  A trough extending south from the low entered the state during the evening.  Strong southwest winds brought moisture north into the state with dew points reaching the low 50s in southwest Iowa by the evening hours.  The low level jet was in the 35 to 45 kt range.  The airmass became unstable with lifted indices around -2 and CAPE values around 400 J/kg by evening.  The freezing level was around 8500 feet which was conducive for hail.  Thunderstorms erupted ahead of the approaching trough during the early evening.  The line of thunderstorms filled in quite quickly.  Though most of the storms were not severe and produced pea to marble size hail and 35 to 50 MPH winds, a few of the storms did become severe.  There were spotty wind reports of 55 to 60 MPH with several of the storms producing nickel size and slightly larger hail.  The largest hail report came from Webster County with one inch diameter hail.  High winds caused considerable damage to trees and some structural damage near the Garden Grove area.  Lightning also struck a house in Garden Grove, causing minor damage.

Hail in RINGGOLD, IOWA
From 06-MAR-05 21:08:00 to 06-MAR-05 21:08:00 (CST)
Location: CLEARFIELD
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 1K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in WEBSTER, IOWA
From 06-MAR-05 20:30:00 to 06-MAR-05 20:30:00 (CST)
Location: FT DODGE
Magnitude: 1.00 
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Hail in TAYLOR, IOWA
From 06-MAR-05 20:47:00 to 06-MAR-05 20:47:00 (CST)
Location: GRAVITY
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 1K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in POLK, IOWA
From 06-MAR-05 21:50:00 to 06-MAR-05 21:50:00 (CST)
Location: DES MOINES EKMAN ARP
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in DALLAS, IOWA
From 06-MAR-05 21:38:00 to 06-MAR-05 21:38:00 (CST)
Location: WAUKEE
Magnitude: 0.75 
Reported by: GENERAL PUBLIC

Thunderstorm Wind in DECATUR, IOWA
From 06-MAR-05 22:10:00 to 06-MAR-05 22:10:00 (CST)
Location: GARDEN GROVE
Magnitude: 57 EG
Property damage: 10K
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Thunderstorm Wind in DECATUR, IOWA
From 06-MAR-05 21:54:00 to 06-MAR-05 21:54:00 (CST)
Location: LEON
Magnitude: 50 MG
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Lightning in DECATUR, IOWA
From 06-MAR-05 22:15:00 to 06-MAR-05 22:15:00 (CST)
Location: GARDEN GROVE
Property damage: 5K
Reported by: NEWSPAPER

Thunderstorm Wind in PALO ALTO, IOWA
From 06-MAR-05 19:16:00 to 06-MAR-05 19:16:00 (CST)
Location: WEST BEND
Magnitude: 50 MG
Reported by: AWOS,ASOS,MESONET,ETC

Hail in STORY, IOWA
From 06-MAR-05 21:57:00 to 06-MAR-05 21:57:00 (CST)
Location: COLO
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 1K
Reported by: TRAINED SPOTTER

Hail in MARSHALL, IOWA
From 06-MAR-05 22:04:00 to 06-MAR-05 22:04:00 (CST)
Location: STATE CENTER
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 1K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Hail in CALHOUN, IOWA
From 06-MAR-05 20:25:00 to 06-MAR-05 20:25:00 (CST)
Location: ROCKWELL CITY
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 1K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT

Hail in WAYNE, IOWA
From 06-MAR-05 22:15:00 to 06-MAR-05 22:15:00 (CST)
Location: ALLERTON
Magnitude: 0.88 
Property damage: 1K
Reported by: LAW ENFORCEMENT